Mérantais Airfield

The primary reason for the closure was the non-renewal of the operating lease by the French State, the landowner. This decision was heavily influenced by long-standing environmental and political pressures. The airfield was located within the protected 'Parc Naturel Régional de la Haute Vallée de Chevreuse' (Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Natural Park), and there were persistent complaints from local residents and environmental groups regarding noise pollution from the aircraft. The park's charter aimed to preserve the area's tranquility and natural landscape, which was deemed incompatible with ongoing aviation activities. The closure was therefore a political and environmental decision rather than one based on economic failure or a specific incident.

Following its closure, the airfield site has been decommissioned and is undergoing a process of ecological restoration, often referred to as 'renaturation'. The aviation infrastructure, including the runways and hangars, has been largely removed. The land has been returned to a more natural state, managed by the Regional Natural Park. It is now used for agricultural purposes, primarily as pastureland for grazing sheep, and as a natural meadow to promote local biodiversity. The goal is to fully integrate the former airfield back into the surrounding protected landscape of the Vallée de Chevreuse.

Mérantais Airfield was not a major commercial or military airport but held significant importance for the general and recreational aviation community in the Île-de-France (Paris) region. Established around 1982, it became one of France's most prominent hubs for ultralight aircraft (ULM - Ultra-Léger Motorisé). The airfield was home to the 'Club ULM de Mérantais', which was one of the largest and most active ultralight flying clubs in the region. It served as a crucial site for flight training, recreational flying, and community events for aviation enthusiasts. For decades, it provided a base for hundreds of pilots and their lightweight aircraft, contributing significantly to the development of ultralight aviation near Paris.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Mérantais Airfield. The closure is considered permanent. The political will and environmental regulations that led to its shutdown remain firmly in place. The site's location within a protected national park and the official policy of restoring it to a natural state make any future aviation activity highly improbable. The focus of local authorities and the park management is on ecological conservation, not a return to aviation.